Satellite Provisioning of Cell Service

ABSTRACT

Satellite provisioning of cell service for an in-vehicle telematics control unit (“TCU”) is presented. Thus, a truly carrier independent TCU is facilitated. A TCU may be provided with a cellular modem and two or more SIM cards, each associated with a cellular carrier that has approved the modem and their SIM card. The TCU may also be provided with connectivity to a satellite, such as, for example, via an SDARS antenna and processing module, that can receive and process SDARS audio and data signals. When a user desires to change from one of the cellular carriers to another, provisioning data for the new carrier&#39;s SIM, now already in the telematics system, may be (i) sent over the satellite, (ii) received at the satellite antenna, and (iii) passed to a telematics processor. The telematics processor, in turn, may (iv) deliver the provisioning data to the cell modem, which may then (v) program the appropriate SIM with the provisioning data, thus allowing cellular communications on the new carrier&#39;s network. The inventive functionality facilitates easily switching carriers as one crosses a border, or when a new vehicle is imported to a given country, and cellular service then or there available on one of the approved carriers is easily chosen by a user and turned on. The TCU may also include a Wi-Fi module, configured to receive provisioning instructions or data over a Wi-Fi network.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of PCT/US2015/018792,which was published as WO/2015/134644, and also claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/947,955, filed on Mar. 4,2014, entitled “SATELLITE PROVISIONING OF CELL SERVICE”, which is fullyincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to telematics systems, and in particularto in-vehicle telematics systems having satellite as well as cellularnetwork connectivity, where a satellite communications channel may beused to provision in-vehicle cellular modem(s) for multiple cellularcarriers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional telematics systems, such as, for example, those provided invehicles, have an integrated cellular modem that allows such systems tocommunicate with the outside world. Conventionally, the cellular modemsin telematics systems have a dedicated Subscriber Identity Module(“SIM”) card, and thus are tied to a particular carrier, in similarfashion to most mobile phones. A vehicle owner or user must thereforeestablish an account with that sole carrier (e.g., Verizon, T-Mobile,ATT, etc.) in order to use the telematics device.

A SIM card is a portable memory chip used mostly in cell phones thatoperate on the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network.They are also used in 3GPP and 4G networks. These cards hold thepersonal information of the account holder, including his or her phonenumber, address book, text messages, and other data. When a user wantsto change cellular phones, he or she can usually easily remove the cardfrom one handset and insert it into another. SIM cards are convenientand popular with many users, and are a key part of developing cell phonetechnology.

Since all of a user's data is tied to the SIM card, only it needs to beactivated when the person opens an account with a cell phone serviceprovider (also called a carrier). Each card has a unique number printedon the microchip, which the carrier needs to activate it. In most cases,the phone's owner can go either to the carrier's website and enter thisnumber in the appropriate tool or call the service provider directlyfrom another phone to get it turned on. SIM cards are tied to aparticular carrier and can only be used with a service plan from thatcarrier.

The situation is different as regards SIM cards in telematics devices.Often, following the purchase of a vehicle, an operator of a telematicsservice, or alternatively, an owner or user of the vehicle having thetelematics device, may desire to change cellular carriers. This requiresopening up the telematics device, switching out the SIM card with oneprovided by another carrier, and then provisioning the device. However,once the former carrier's SIM card is no longer available to the device,there are no longer any communications pathways available to it, andthus no way to provision, the replaced SIM card—even if this somewhatdifficult process were to be undertaken.

Moreover, in actuality this process is almost never performed, and isnot at all practical. Unlike mobile phones, accessing the SIM card in abuilt-in telematics device is not an easily performed task. Such a taskrequires opening up a built-in telematics device, accessing its cellularmodem, switching out its SIM card, and then contacting a carrier fromwhom a new SIM card has been obtained, and provisioning it. For obviousreasons, this is unrealistic in the real world. Thus, in general,vehicle owners and telematics service operators remain tied to thecarrier whose SIM card was originally included in the telematics device.

As a result, the conventional telematics device has one SIM card in it,and that card is not compatible with other carriers. Moreover, thetelematics service provider generally has a contract with the carrierprovider, so there is really no chance that a vehicle owner has anyoption to switch carriers in the conventional system.

What is therefore needed in the art is more flexibility in howin-vehicle telematics devices access cellular networks, including, ifdesired, ways to switch carriers, and easily accomplish provisioning ofthe in-vehicle modem to a new cellular carrier's network. This requiresadditional hardware and software to be provided in telematics devices tofacilitate such switching and provisioning.

What is further needed in the art is an easy way for a user of atelematics service to change cellular carriers, simply by deciding to beon a new network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Satellite provisioning of cell service for an in-vehicle telematicscontrol unit (“TCU”) is presented. Thus, a truly carrier independent TCUis facilitated. A TCU may be provided with a cellular modem and two ormore SIM cards, each associated with a cellular carrier that hasapproved the modem and their SIM card. The TCU may also be provided withconnectivity to a satellite, such as, for example, via an SDARS antennaand processing module, that can receive and process SDARS audio and datasignals. When a user desires to change from one of the cellular carriersto another, provisioning data for the new carrier's SIM, now already inthe telematics system, may be (i) sent over the satellite, (ii) receivedat the satellite antenna, and (iii) passed to a telematics processor.The telematics processor, in turn, may (iv) deliver the provisioningdata to the cell modem, which may then (v) program the appropriate SIMwith the provisioning data, thus allowing cellular communications on thenew carrier's network. The inventive functionality facilitates easilyswitching carriers as one crosses a border, or when a new vehicle isimported to a given country, and cellular service then or thereavailable on one of the approved carriers is easily chosen by a user andturned on.

In some exemplary embodiments, an SDARS service provider may alsoprovide telematics services, as well as distribute cellular service formultiple cellular carriers. In such cases, to change cellular service auser need not contact the new cellular carrier, but rather may simplycontact the SDARS provider, who handles all of the details of thecarrier change, making life easy for any user who is a customer of theSDARS service. In effect, all in-vehicle connectivity may be provided,and handled, by such an SDARS provider. The TCU may also include a Wi-Fimodule, configured to receive provisioning instructions or data over aWi-Fi network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a conventional telematics control unit (TCU);

FIG. 2 illustrates a carrier independent telematics control unit with anintegrated SDARS receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate two respective versions of the left side ofFIG. 2, showing an exemplary LTE modem that is certified on two carriernetworks with independent SIMs according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary process of provisioning the carrierindependent telematics control unit of FIG. 3A according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary process of provisioning the carrierindependent telematics control unit of FIG. 3B to connect to Carrier 2'snetwork while already being subscribed to Carrier 1's network accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates the exemplary process of FIG. 4 where theprovisioning data is transmitted to the carrier independent telematicscontrol unit with an integrated SDARS receiver and Wi-Fi receiver over aWiFi network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1. Introduction

The following scenario is considered: a Telematics Service Provider(“TSP”) is creating a 3G system, using 3G compatible units in vehicles.The preferred 3G carrier at the inception of the system, say in 2014,has decided that they are going to sundown their 3G network around 2021.If, for example, the modem provided in the telematics control unit(“TCU”) is desired to be used in automobile model years through andincluding the 2016-2017 model year, those modems will only be viable fora short five year period, i.e., they will essentially be cut off frombeing able to provide service sometime during 2020-2021. It would thusbe useful if the TSP had the capability to accept that fact, and thenplan to switch over to another 3G carrier at that cut-off time, and thuscontinue to offer service with the same hardware.

Another scenario might be, for example, that the TSP wants to providehardware in a vehicle that is initially not provisioned to any carrier,and then subsequently provision it at the time it desires to begin doingbusiness with that device.

Because a TSP can be the same as, or may be associated with, a satelliteradio service provider, such as assignee hereof Sirius XM Radio Inc., itis an organic development to provide telematics hardware containingcellular modems in a vehicle together with satellite radio receivers,often in integrated devices. It is also natural to utilize not only thecellular communications channel from an in-vehicle telematics device,but also to use the other available communications channel into avehicle—the satellite radio broadcast channel—in various synergetic waysto facilitate the provisioning of cellular service.

These exemplary scenarios, and various extensions and combinationsthereof, motivate various exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention.

2. Conventional TCU Configuration

FIG. 1 illustrates a telematics control unit (“TCU”) as known in theprior art. With reference thereto, there is shown a Telematics Processor110 in the center of the figure. It is connected, as shown on the rightside of FIG. 1, to various elements of an in-vehicle telematics system.These include Audio CODEC 145, Microphone and Speaker Amplifiers 147,CAN Transceiver 150, and Power Supply 155. These elements, in turn, areconnected via Pin Connectors 160 to Microphone MIC1, Vehicle Bus 163 andVehicle Power 165. Telematics Processor 110 is also connected directlyto Pin Connectors 160 via Discrete Signal Lines 151. It is noted thatthe CAN refers to the Controller Area Network, also known as the CANBus, which is a vehicle bus standard designed to allow electroniccontrol units and devices to communicate with each other in applicationswithout a host computer.

As shown on the left side of FIG. 1, Telematics Processor 110 isconnected to a communications system by which the telematics processorreceives signals from various sources outside the vehicle (it may alsotransmit back to these sources, as the case may be). These sources mayinclude, for example, a GPS signal source as well as an LTE networksignal or an LTE/3G network signal. These GPS, LTE and/or LTE/3G signalsare received at GPS Antenna 117, LTE Antenna 115 and LTE/3G Antenna 113,respectively, and are fed to LTE/HSPA and GPS Module 120 via RFConnectors 161, as shown. The signals are then passed to TelematicsProcessor 110 from LTE/HSPA and GPS Module 120. As can be seen in FIG.1, there is only one data network carrier that the telematics systemaccesses, namely Carrier 1, via SIM1 125 which is provisioned forCarrier 1, and connected to (and generally integrated in) LTE/HSPA andGPS Module 120. Thus, a user of the telematics system depicted in FIG. 1must be a customer, directly or indirectly, of Carrier 1.

3. Novel “Carrier-Independent” TCU

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary carrier independent TCU with an integratedSDARS Module 235 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The system of FIG. 2 shown on the right side of the figure isidentical to that of FIG. 1's right side, and index numbers ending inthe same two digits between FIGS. 1 and 2 refer to equivalent elements,and are not described again.

The differences between FIGS. 1 and 2 are thus on the left side of thefigures, where in the system of FIG. 2 multiple SIM cards are provided,as well as an SDARS Module 235. The exemplary system of FIG. 2 can beimplemented in vehicles that are equipped both with an LTE antenna 213and/or an LTE/3G antenna 215, as well as an antenna that is capable ofreceiving an SDARS signal, such as SDARS/GPS Ant. 217, as shown. Invarious exemplary embodiments the SDARS antenna can be separate from, ormay, for example, be combined/integrated with a GPS antenna, as may bedesired or convenient in various contexts. As shown in FIG. 2, there are2 SIMs—SIM 1 225 and SIM 2 227, each associated with a separate carrier,Carrier 1 and Carrier 2, respectively. The SIMs both feed into theLTE/HSPA+GPS module 230. Therefore, the telematics control unit of FIG.2 can actually potentially work with either carrier, i.e., eitherCarrier 1 or Carrier 2, and therefore a user, or a telematics servicecompany, as the case may be, can switch between carriers should that bedesired or convenient in various contexts.

It is here noted that the number of carriers provided for is in no waylimited to two, and in various embodiments it may be desirable to have3, 4, or 5, or even more carriers approve a given carrier independentTCU, such as is depicted in FIG. 2, at the time it is built, to givemaximum flexibility. This is, of course, to be balanced with theadditional costs of SIMs and the contractual arrangements needed toobtain carrier approval. It is also necessary to factor in additionalbands support for the additional carrier frequency bands, andappropriate contractual arrangements to be able to use any carrierassociated with the additional SIMs. Thus, where multiple carriers aresupported by the telematics system, there will be multiple SIMsconnected to the LTE/HSPA+GPS Module 230 in FIG. 2, as opposed to thetwo SIMs now shown.

It is also noted that in some embodiments it is theoretically possibleto not need multiple SIMs at all, one SIM sufficing, assuming that thedifferent carriers supported would or will agree on a standard forprogrammable SIM cards, or the like, such as has been done in Europe,which allows one SIM to be programmed to work with many carriers.

FIG. 3 provide further details of the LTE/HSPA+GPS module shown in FIG.2. FIGS. 3A and 3B are each an abstracted version of the left side ofFIG. 2 (without showing the RF Connectors 261). FIGS. 3A and 3Billustrate that the LTE/HSPA+GPS module 330 may, for example, bepre-certified on two carrier networks, each with an independent SIM, andtherefore the inventive TCU is able to switch between Carrier 1 andCarrier 2, as noted above. FIG. 3A illustrates the case where theLTE/HSPA+GPS Modem is certified on Carrier Network 1, using SIM 1 325(outlined in thick black), and thus the other SIM, SIM2 327 is not used.In a wholly complementary manner, FIG. 3B illustrates the case where theLTE/HSPA+GPS Modem is certified on Carrier Network 2, using SIM 2 327(outlined in thick black), and thus the other SIM, SIM1 325 is not used.It is noted that in general it is required to obtain approval of themultiple SIMs from their respective carriers at the outset (i.e., whenbuilding the TCU), as carriers generally require knowing all of thehardware that is being used in a device they will interoperate with.Thus, in most embodiments, a business relationship needs to benegotiated to facilitate any switching of carriers down the line.

In this context it is noted that where a carrier is not subsidizingup-front the hardware it is easier to obtain such assent. For example,an exemplary Telematics Service Provider (“TSP”) may choose to foregoany subsidy on the modem itself, and only take a portion of any dataplan that it later sells to a customer. In such cases that sale can be,for example, the trigger point for the TSP to obtain a subsidy. In sucha scenario it is in the carrier's interest actually to approve themulti-carrier hardware ab initio. I.e., the deal is that the TSP is notasking for a subsidy upfront, but wants a given carrier to approve themulti-carrier capable modem, and will try to subsequently sell thatcarrier's plan if they can. This arrangement does not cost the carrieranything at all (i.e., no hardware subsidy is requested upon building orapproval of the hardware), and the carrier need only give the TSP a cutif they actually sell its plan to consumers. In general it is believedthat under these terms most carriers would desire to go along withapproving the hardware for use with their service. This is simplybecause if they do not participate then there is a guarantee that anyrevenue stream will be with the other carriers whose SIMs are providedon the TCU. Conversely, if they do participate they have a chance atcapturing some revenue.

Moreover, to facilitate such a contemplated switch between carriers, aTSP can agree to route all of their telematics data traffic—in additionto the customer's specific traffic—to the new carrier at some rate thatis agreed upon up-front. So, for example, in the U.S., the TSP could gointo the Verizon™ network, or the AT&T™ network, sell the consumer adata plan in the chosen network, and at the same time bring the utilitydata that is being used for the telematics services to the new networkas well as a “sweetener.” So the TSP may bring the business to eithercarrier. While the bulk of that business would be the money that thecarrier would be making from its customers, i.e., from the data thatplan each user must sign up for, the chosen carrier would also be ableto make money from the telematics utility data. In some embodiments,such a TSP may be associated with an SDARS (Satellite Digital AudioRadio Service) provider, for example.

4. Provisioning the Novel “Carrier-Independent” TCU

FIGS. 4-6, next described, illustrate various steps in exemplaryprocesses according to embodiments of the present invention forprovisioning a carrier independent telematics control unit with anintegrated SDARS module as shown in FIG. 2. These steps are indicated inFIGS. 4-6 by Arabic numerals within circles placed next to the relevanthardware element involved in a given step. The various steps are alsolisted at the bottom of each figure together with a brief description.

Provisioning Over SDARS

FIG. 4 illustrates a carrier independent TCU with integrated SDARSmodule, as shown in FIG. 3, with the provisioning steps added, asdescribed above. With reference to FIG. 4, its right side is essentiallyidentical to the telematics processor 210 as shown in FIG. 2, as well asthe various elements and connections to the left of telematics processor210, all as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, in FIG. 4 there can be seen 2SIMs, SIM1 425 and SIM2 427, each associated with a different carrier,and each communicably connected to an LTE/HSPA+GPS module 430 which isconfigured to process these various signals. Module 430 is itselfcommunicably connected to Telematics Processor 410. Telematics Processor410 is also connected to SDARS Module 435, which processes satelliteradio (SDARS) signals that may be received at SDARS/GPS Ant. 417. TheTCU can thus receive signals over antennae LTE/3G 413, LTE 415, andSDARS/GPS 417. With continued reference to FIG. 4, the following steps,being steps 1 through 5, may be performed in an exemplary provisioningprocess.

First, at Step 1, beginning at the far left of FIG. 4, the SDARSsatellite 445 may transmit provisioning data, which can be received inthe vehicle at SDARS/GPS Antenna 417, and then forwarded to an SDARSreceiver contained in SDARS module 435. To facilitate Step 1, theprovisioning system associates a TCU SDARS Module ID with a cellular IDso as to address provisioning messages over the SDARS network.

Once the SDARS receiver in SDARS Module 435 receives the provisioningdata, at Step 2 it can pass the provisioning data to TelematicsProcessor 410. Telematics Processor 410 may then deliver theprovisioning data to a cellular modem in LTE/HSPA+GPS module 430 at Step3. Following that, at Step 4, the cellular modem programs an appropriateSIM, in this case SIM 1 425, with the provisioning data. Finally, atStep 5, the now provisioned cellular modem can communicate over CellularCarrier 1's network using the provisioning data which it originallyreceived from the SDARS network, from SDARS satellite 445 via SDARS/GPSantenna 417.

It is noted that neither Cellular Carrier 2 450, nor SIM2 427 isinvolved in the process shown in FIG. 4. As noted, and as shown in FIG.4, the described provisioning system associates a TCU SDARS module IDwith a cellular ID to address provisioning messages over the SDARSnetwork. In various exemplary embodiments, the SDARS provider wouldconnect the two IDs.

It is noted that in order for an SDARS provider to have suchprovisioning ability, it may enter into a contract with a carrier, sayfor example Verizon™ or AT&T™. Verizon™ or AT&T™ may then give out ablock of numbers to the SDARS provider, and those numbers may then beprogrammed into the production volume of automobiles that have an SDARSradio and TCU in a vehicle. That block of numbers will eventually willget turned on, but generally the block size is only enough to supportsuch production volume. In most arrangements, the carriers may not giveout a year's production at once, but rather they may generally give itout as the vehicles are being built.

Provisioning a New Carrier's SIM Over SDARS while Already Subscribed toAnother Carrier

FIG. 5 illustrates an almost identical process as that shown in FIG. 4,except that here an actual change of carriers is depicted. Thus, in Step1 of FIG. 5, while the cellular modem in LTE/HSPA+GPS Module 530 isalready subscribed to Cellular Carrier 1 555's network (having beenprovisioned, for example, as per the process described above inconnection with FIG. 4, or via another process), SDARS satellite 545transmits provisioning data for the other cellular carrier, namelyCellular Carrier 2 550. The Carrier 2 provisioning data is received viaSDARS/GPS Antenna 517 at the SDARS receiver embedded in SDARS Module535, and at Step 2, this Carrier 2 provisioning data is passed toTelematics Processor 510. Telematics Processor 510 may then deliver theprovisioning data to the cellular modem in LTE/HSPA+GPS module 530 atStep 3. Following that, at Step 4, the cellular modem programs the nowappropriate SIM—SIM 2 527—with the provisioning data. Finally, at Step5, the cellular modem, based on instructions in the provisioning datareceived from the SDARS network, restarts using SIM 2 and thereaftercommunicates on Cellular Carrier 2's network 550 using the provisioningdata originally received from the SDARS network via SDARS Satellite 545.

It is noted that with the disclosed approach, when a customer decidesnot to use a number any longer, an SDARS provider or TSP (and in manycases they will be one entity) can just immediately give the number backto the carrier, and thus incur no carrying costs associated with thenumber. If and when the customer is ready to re-subscribe, it is asimple task for the SDARS/TSP to issue another number to that customer,using one of the numbers that it has on-hand in a block of numbers thatis has obtained from the carrier, as described above.

The exemplary process of FIG. 5 is in contrast to the currentconventional situation, where, without the ability to provision via aSDARS communications channel as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, if the TSPwanted to keep a number available following a customer shutting off hisor her service, the TSP would have to pay a monthly fee to the carrierfor that number in order to be able to reuse it later. Exemplaryembodiments of the present invention obviate that need (and cost).

Provisioning Over Wi-Fi

Finally, in an alternate exemplary embodiment, FIG. 6 illustrates acarrier independent TCU with integrated SDARS Module, and also having anintegrated Wi-Fi Module 637. Besides the additional Wi-Fi hardware, thesystem of FIG. 6 is identical to that shown in FIG. 4. Thus, there are 2SIMs, SIM1 625 and SIM2 627, each associated with a different carrier,and each communicably connected to an LTE/HSPA+GPS module 630 which isconfigured to process these various signals. Module 630 is itselfcommunicably connected to Telematics Processor 610. Telematics Processor610 is also connected to SDARS Module 635, which processes satelliteradio (SDARS) signals that may be received at SDARS/GPS Ant. 619, and,as noted, additionally connected to Wi-Fi Module 637. The TCU can thusreceive signals over antennae LTE/3G Ant. 613, LTE Ant. 615, SDARS/GPSAnt. 619, and Wi-Fi Ant. 617.

Leveraging the additional hardware component, in the process illustratedin FIG. 6, the transmission of provisioning data is not from SDARSSatellite 645 but rather from a Wi-Fi hot spot 640. To be able to dothis, as noted, the TCU of FIG. 6 also has a Wi-Fi Module 637 connectedto a Wi-Fi antenna 617. Thus, the system of FIG. 6 allows provisioningfrom any of the depicted sources, namely cellular carrier, SDARSSatellite, or Wi-Fi network, and thus offers maximum flexibility.

With reference to FIG. 6, beginning at the bottom left of the figure, atStep 1 a service center may transmit provisioning data for a cellularcarrier network to a Wi-Fi receiver over Wi-Fi. The provisioning data isreceived at the TCU via Wi-Fi antenna 617. At Step 2 a Wi-Fi receiverwithin Wi-Fi module 637 passes the received provisioning data totelematics processor 610. At Step 3 telematics processor 610 deliversthe provisioning data to a cellular modem within LTE/HSPA+GPS Module630, as described above. At Step 4 cellular modem within LTE/HSPA+GPSModule 630 programs the appropriate SIM (in this example SIM 1 625 forCarrier 1 655—but it could just as likely be SIM 2 627 for Carrier 2650) with the received provisioning data. Finally, at step 5 the cellmodem within 620 communicates on Cellular Carrier 1's network with theprovisioning data received from the Wi-Fi network.

Provisioning a New Carrier's SIM Over Wi-Fi while Already Subscribed toAnother Carrier

Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 6 or an equivalent figure, thesame change of carrier process as described in connection with FIG. 5,where the TCU is already a subscriber of Carrier 1 could also beimplemented in a completely analogous manner by sending the provisioningdata for the new carrier, Carrier 2, over Wi-Fi Hotspot 640, therebyeffecting a change of carrier in the manner described in connection withFIG. 5, but using the Wi-Fi communications path to transmit theprovisioning data, as shown in the exemplary system and process of FIG.6.

5. Exemplary Apparatus; TCU Provided with Appropriate ComputerImplementable Instructions

Various embodiments of the present invention can be implemented with oneor more apparatuses to perform the operations described herein. Theseapparatuses may be specially constructed for the required purposes, ormay comprise a computer system that is selectively activated orreconfigured by a computer program which it executes and which is storedon one or more computer-readable storage mediums accessible toprocessing elements of the computer system. For example, such a computerprogram may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as,but not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, opticaldisks, compact disk read only memories (CD-ROMs), and magnetic-opticaldisks, read-only memories (ROMs), flash drives, random access memories(RAMs), erasable programmable read only memories (EPROMs), electricallyerasable programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), flash memories, harddrives or other forms of magnetic or optical storage media, or any typeof media suitable for storing electronic instructions, and eachaccessible to a computer processor, e.g., by way of a system bus orother communication means.

As described above, there are various steps that occur upon receipt ofthe provisioning data by the TCU. These steps or processes may beimplemented in software, firmware or the like, and stored in, or incommunication with, the TCU. It is important to recognize thatembodiments of the present invention may be implemented with the aid ofcomputer-implemented processes or methods (a.k.a. programs or routines)that may be rendered in any computer language including, withoutlimitation, C#, C/C++, Fortran, COBOL, PASCAL, assembly language, markuplanguages (e.g., HTML, SGML, XML, VoXML), and the like, as well asobject-oriented environments such as the Common Object Request BrokerArchitecture (CORBA), Java™ and the like. In general, however, all ofthe aforementioned terms as used herein are meant to encompass anyseries of logical steps performed in a sequence to accomplish a givenpurpose. In view of the above, it should be appreciated that someportions of the description above are presented in terms of algorithmsand symbolic representations of operations on data within a computermemory. An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be aself-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. The stepsare those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities.Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form ofelectrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred,combined, compared and otherwise manipulated.

It will prove convenient at times, principally for reasons of commonusage, to refer to these signals as data, values, elements, symbols,characters, terms, numbers or the like. It should be borne in mind,however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated withthe appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labelsapplied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise, it isunderstood that throughout the description of the present invention, useof terms such as “processing”, “computing”, “calculating”,“determining”, or the like, refer to the action and processes of anappropriately programmed computer system, or similar electroniccomputing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented asphysical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registersand memories into other data similarly represented as physicalquantities within the computer system memories or registers or othersuch information storage, transmission or display devices.

6. Exemplary Use Cases

Because various exemplary embodiments of the present invention allow anentity different than a cellular carrier to deliver provisioning datathat allows the TCU to access that carrier's network, the SDARSprovider, or an entity transmitting over Wi-Fi serves as anintermediary. Thus, a user or subscriber of that intermediary's service,such as, e.g., a SDARS subscriber, can request sending of provisioningdata to a vehicle directly from the SDARS operator.

It is noted that the disclosed functionality may be particularly usefulfor easily switching carriers as one crosses a border. For example, inNorth America, along both the Canadian and the Mexican borders with theUnited States, various people tend to cross the border frequently. If adomestic cellular network for the United States is the cellular carrierfor the TCU, then roaming charges are incurred on the non-U.S. side ofthe border, and vice versa. Depending upon how long a vehicle spendsoutside the US, and what quantity of data is transceived over thecellular network, this can be expensive. A convenient solution would beto automatically switch carriers when crossing the border. Using the GPSdata to know when to effect the change, the TCU may be programmed toswitch cellular carriers from a US carrier (e.g., Verizon, T-Mobile,etc.) to a Canadian one, for example, and operate on that network aslong as the vehicle is in Canada. The provisioning data for the switchbetween carriers maybe provided by an SDARS network, as shown in FIG. 5,or over a Wi-Fi network, as shown in FIG. 6. The vehicle's TCU wouldobviously need a SIM card for the Canadian cellular carrier to have beenpre-installed.

It is here also noted that basically one may switch carriers on the flyif one has both provisioning profiles. Thus, in exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention a TSP or SDARS service can switch back and forthbetween SIMs and associated carriers as often as desired. In someembodiments this may not be done in practice, inasmuch as once a TCU isput into one carrier it will probably stay with that carrier for theservice period, unless something major happens. However, if needed,multiple switches may be done in various exemplary embodiments.

Similarly, in a more permanent scenario, the disclosed functionality maybe used when a new vehicle is imported to a given country, and cellularservice there available on one of the approved carriers is easilychosen, provisioned and turned on. For example, many foreign madeautomobiles are imported into the United States each year. They oftenare provided with a telematics system, and generally an SDARS unit aswell. It is not always known a priori which of many possible cellularcarriers the telematics service or, for example, the user, may decide touse. Using the disclosed invention, it only need be known at the time ofmanufacture which options are available, and appropriate SIM cards, orequivalent, for each option provided and approved. Once the vehicle isdelivered, or sold, a carrier associated with the pre-installed SIMs maybe chosen and appropriately provisioned.

Another situation in which the disclosed functionality may be used iswhen, for example, a customer sells a car or gives it to their wife,child, relative or the like, and the person who is the new owner of thecar has a different carrier than that with which the car is currentlyprovisioned. In such case, it can be useful to switch over to the newowner's carrier so that the new owner could obtain the benefit of havingboth his car and his or her cell phone on the same carrier's network.Many carriers will provide a financial incentive to users to effect aswitch in such a case.

A latitude of modification, change, and substitution is intended in theforegoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of the otherfeatures. For example, the system of the invention may use variousnumbers N of SIM cards in the TCU, and the TCU may include modules forreceiving various cellular network signals, SDARS signals, Wi-Fi orother wireless signals, in various combinations. Initial provisioning,or switches between carriers once already subscribed to a differentcarrier, may take place using provisioning data received over anyavailable path to the TCU, as may be most convenient or useful.

Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construedbroadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of theinvention as disclosed.

1. A carrier independent telematics control unit, comprising: atelematics processor; a cellular modem communicatively connected to thetelematics processor; two or more SIM cards configured to be used withthe cellular modem, communicably connected to the cellular modem; and asatellite module, including an antenna, connected to the telematicsprocessor, wherein the satellite module is configured to receiveprovisioning data for the cellular modem and pass said provisioning datato the telematics processor.
 2. The telematics control unit of claim 1,wherein at least one of: the satellite module is an SDARS module; thesatellite module is an SDARS module with an SDARS module ID assigned tothe SDARS module; or the satellite module is an SDARS module with anSDARS module ID assigned to the SDARS module, and, in operation, aprovisioning system associates the SDARS module ID with a cellular ID toaddress provisioning messages over an SDARS network to the cellularmodem. 3-4. (canceled)
 5. The telematics control unit of claim 1,wherein provisioning data are received in a data channel by thesatellite module.
 6. The telematics control unit of claim 5, furthercomprising a Wi-Fi module, configured to receive provisioning data overa Wi-Fi network.
 7. The telematics control unit of claim 5, wherein atleast one of: (i) the cellular modem is provided in a LTE/HSPA and GPSmodule; (ii) in operation the telematics processor delivers receivedprovisioning data to the cellular modem, and the cellular modem programsone of the SIM cards using the received provisioning data; or (iii) thecellular modem is provided in a LTE/HSPA and GPS module, and wherein, inoperation, the telematics processor delivers provisioning data andinstructions received at the SDARS module to the cellular modem, and thecellular modem: (i) programs a non-currently used SIM card using thereceived provisioning data, and (ii) restarts using the non-currentlyused SIM card and communicates on its carrier's network.
 8. Thetelematics control unit of claim 6, wherein at least one of: thecellular modem is provided in a LTE/HSPA and GPS module; the cellularmodem is provided in a LTE/HSPA and GPS module, and in operation thetelematics processor delivers received provisioning data to the cellularmodem, and the cellular modem programs one of the SIM cards using thereceived provisioning data; or the cellular modem is provided in aLTE/HSPA and GPS module, and in operation: (i) the telematics processordelivers received provisioning data to the cellular modem, and thecellular modem programs one of the SIM cards using the receivedprovisioning data, and (ii) the telematics processor deliversprovisioning data and instructions received at one of the SDARS moduleand the W-Fi module to the cellular modem, and the cellular modem: (a)programs a non-currently used SIM card using the received provisioningdata, and (b) restarts using the non-currently used SIM card andcommunicates on its carrier's network. 9-12. (canceled)
 13. A system,comprising: an SDARS satellite; and the telematics control unit of claim5, wherein, in operation, the SDARS satellite transmits provisioningdata to a satellite receiver in the telematics control unit for any of aplurality of cellular carriers for which the telematics control unit isconfigured to operate with.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein at leastone of: the SDARS satellite transmits the provisioning data within oneor more data channels, or the SDARS satellite transmits the provisioningdata within one or more data channels, and a user can request sending ofprovisioning data to a vehicle directly from the SDARS operator. 15-18.(canceled)
 19. A method, comprising: providing a telematics unit in avehicle, the unit comprising: a telematics processor; a cellular modemcommunicatively connected to the telematics processor; two or more SIMcards configured to be used with the cellular modem, communicablyconnected to the cellular modem; a satellite module, including anantenna, connected to the telematics processor, wherein the satellitemodule is configured to receive provisioning data for the cellular modemand pass said provisioning data to the telematics processor.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, further comprising at least one of: sending one ormore of provisioning data and provisioning instructions for the cellularmodem over a satellite to either: (i) provision the cellular modem tooperate on a carrier network, or (ii) facilitate a change of carriersused by the cellular modem; sending one or more of provisioning data andprovisioning instructions for the cellular modem over a satellite toeither: (i) provision the cellular modem to operate on a carriernetwork, or (ii) facilitate a change of carriers used by the cellularmodem, wherein said change of carriers is made pursuant to at least oneof: a change of ownership of the vehicle, an economic incentiveavailable for the change, a cessation of service by a current carrier,or a request by the vehicle owner, or sending one or more ofprovisioning data and provisioning instructions for the cellular modemover a satellite to facilitate a reactivation of service with the samecarrier. 21-22. (canceled)
 23. The method of claim 19, wherein at leastone of: the telematics unit further comprises a Wi-Fi module and a Wi-Fiantenna, or the cellular modem of the telematics control unit isprovided in a LTE/HSPA and GPS module.
 24. The method of claim 23,further comprising sending provisioning data for the cellular modem overthe Wi-Fi network to either: (i) provision the cellular modem to operateon a carrier network, or (ii) facilitate a change of carriers used bythe cellular modem.
 25. The method of claim 20, further comprisingsending one or more of provisioning data and provisioning instructionsfor the cellular modem over a satellite to either: (i) provision thecellular modem to operate on a carrier network, or (ii) facilitate achange of carriers used by the cellular modem, wherein said change ofcarriers is made pursuant to at least one of: a change of ownership ofthe vehicle, an economic incentive available for the change, a cessationof service by a current carrier, or a request by the vehicle owner. 26.(canceled)
 27. A method, comprising: sending provisioning data andprovisioning instructions for an in-vehicle cellular modem over asatellite, the vehicle comprising a telematics control unit including: atelematics processor; a cellular modem communicatively connected to thetelematics processor; two or more SIM cards configured to be used withthe cellular modem, communicably connected to the cellular modem; and asatellite module, including an antenna, connected to the telematicsprocessor, wherein the satellite module is configured to receiveprovisioning data for the cellular modem and pass said provisioning datato the telematics processor.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein atleast one of: (a) the provisioning data and provisioning instructions,when processed by the telematics processor, cause the telematics controlunit to at least one of: (i) provision the cellular modem to operate ona carrier network, or (ii) facilitate a change of carriers used by thecellular modem; (b) the provisioning data and provisioning instructions,when processed by the telematics processor cause the telematics controlunit to facilitate a reactivation of service with the same carrier; (c)the provisioning data and provisioning instructions, when processed bythe telematics processor cause the telematics control unit to facilitatea reactivation of service with the same carrier; or (d) the telematicscontrol unit further comprises a Wi-Fi module, including an antenna,configured to receive provisioning data over a Wi-Fi network. 29-31.(canceled)
 32. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one of: (a) theprovisioning data and provisioning instructions, when processed by thetelematics processor, cause the telematics control unit to either: (i)provision the cellular modem to operate on a carrier network, or (ii)facilitate a change of carriers used by the cellular modem; or theprovisioning data and provisioning instructions, when processed by thetelematics processor, cause the telematics control unit to either: (i)provision the cellular modem to operate on a carrier network, or (ii)facilitate a change of carriers used by the cellular modem, and saidchange of carriers is made pursuant to at least one of: a change ofownership of the vehicle, an economic incentive available for thechange, a cessation of service by a current carrier, or a request by thevehicle owner
 33. (canceled)
 34. A method, comprising: sendingprovisioning data and provisioning instructions for an in-vehiclecellular modem over a Wi-Fi network, the vehicle comprising a telematicscontrol unit including: a telematics processor; a cellular modemcommunicatively connected to the telematics processor; two or more SIMcards configured to be used with the cellular modem, communicablyconnected to the cellular modem; a Wi-Fi module and a Wi-Fi antenna,connected to the telematics processor, wherein the Wi-Fi module isconfigured to receive provisioning data for the cellular modem and passsaid provisioning data to the telematics processor.
 35. The method ofclaim 34, wherein at least one of: the provisioning data andprovisioning instructions, when processed by the telematics processor,cause the telematics control unit to either: (i) provision the cellularmodem to operate on a carrier network, or (ii) facilitate a change ofcarriers used by the cellular modem, or the cellular modem of thetelematics control unit is provided in a LTE/HSPA and GPS module. 36.(canceled)